QUESTIONNAIRE

This survey is designed for the study: Condolence strategies used by American speakers of
English and Vietnamese speakers of English in the office setting. Since the topic of this research
is quite sensitive, your assistance in responding to the following questions is highly appreciated and
you can be confident that you will not be identified in any discussion of the data.
The purpose of this questionnaire is to find out what you would say in each situation listed below. In
completing these questions, please choose the answers by putting a tick () or expressing your ideas
in where appropriate.

Thank you very much for your support!

Nationality:
Your age:
Your occupation:
Gender:

Male

Female

Highest level of education:

High school

University

Your marital status:

Married

Single

Rural

Other

Your native language:

Area where you spend most of the time: Urban

SITUATION 1: How would you extend your condolences to the following person whose
father/mother has suddenly passed away?
a. Your boss:

(your sex):
.

(your opposite sex):

.

b. Your colleague:

(your sex):
.

(your opposite sex):

.

c. Your employee:
-

(your sex):
.

(your opposite sex):

.

SITUATION 2: His/her father or mother has been ill for a long time and has just passed away.
How would you extend your condolences to that person if s/he is:
a. Your boss:

(your sex):
.

(your opposite sex):

.

b. Your colleague:
-

(your sex):
.

(your opposite sex):

.

c. Your employee:
-

(your sex):
.

(your opposite sex):

.

SITUATION 3: How would you extend your condolences to the following person whose
husband/wife has suddenly died of a fatal disease or accident?
d. Your boss:

(your sex):
.

(your opposite sex):

.

e. Your colleague:
-

(your sex):
.

(your opposite sex):

.

f. Your employee:
-

(your sex):
.

(your opposite sex):

SITUATION 4: How would you extend your condolences to the following person whose only
child has been killed in an accident?
a. Your boss:

(your sex):
.

(your opposite sex):

.

b. Your colleague:
-

(your sex):
.

(your opposite sex):

.

c. Your employee:
-

(your sex):
.

(your opposite sex):

.

SITUATION 5: His/her relative (uncle, aunt, cousin, etc.) has just passed away. How would you
extend your condolences to that person if s/he is:
a. Your boss:

(your sex):
.

(your opposite sex):

.

b. Your colleague:
-

(your sex):
.

(your opposite sex):

.

c. Your employee:
-

(your sex):
.

(your opposite sex):

.

(Adapted from Nguyen T., 2005, A Vietnamese-American cross-cultural study on extending condolences to
the relatives of the deceased In office setting, MA Thesis, Vietnam National University)

Thank you very much for your assistance!